The One That Got Away Read Online Free

thought she cared. She’d been my first steady girlfriend. She'd approached me first for Christ’s sake. Coming up to me at last summer’s quarry party. Acting like I was something important. Staring at me through those long lashes, making feel like I was special. It'd all been a scam to get close to Danny. I could see it now. She’d always wanted to know what he was up to, who he was seeing.
    It was Gina that announced our couple hood on Facebook after two dates to the movies. She was the one who said I love you first. It was her that said she was saving her virginity until marriage. A fact that I could reluctantly accept. I’d have done anything to make her happy. People treated me differently because of her. If Gina Woods was my girlfriend I must be pretty special, almost normal.
    And my best friend Danny, the bastard. We’d gone to war together on the field. I protected his back and he shared his fame and glory. What had I done to them? Where did I screw up?
    I found myself sitting in Mrs. Hollis AP History class wondering how the hell I got there. A quick glance at the clock said we only had a couple of minutes left.  Earth to Scott, get your shit together boy, it’s going to be a long day and you’re going to need to focus.
    A short beep over the intercom made everybody jump and look at the speaker on the wall.
    “Mrs. Hollis, please send Scott James to my office, thank you,” a grumbly voice said. There weren’t any laughs, no snickers, not even a whoop whoop. Everybody knew what this was about and were hoping for the worst. A sea of gleeful smiles and hateful eyes watched me leave. Only Katie River seemed to be on my side. Her sorrowful eyes looked like she was watching a puppy being taken to the execution chamber.
    One out of twenty five was more than I expected. The rest of them stared and remained silent as I gathered my stuff and headed out the door before the teacher could say a word. It’s not like I didn’t expect it.
    The hallways were as barren as an Arizona desert and my steps echoed off the lockers as I made my way to the Principal, Mr. Turner’s office. Would the cops be there? I could see it now. Being led out of the school in cuffs, hands behind my back. Everybody standing there cheering and yelling junk. Screw it, things couldn’t get worse.
    I glanced into Mr. Turner’s office and realized how wrong I could be. Grandfather sat in one of the chairs. My stomach dropped to the floor and I had a hard time swallowing. Crap, this had gotten so much worse. The thought of disappointing him made me break out in hives.
    Old battle axe Betty, the principal’s secretary and the center around which the school revolved nodded her head that I should go right in. Her eyes narrowed in scorn and I thought for sure I’d melt before I made it to the door. I gave a quick knock and entered.
    My grandfather raised an eyebrow as I entered, at least he didn’t look like he hated me. Not yet, they mustn’t have told him.
    “Scott, thank you for coming,” the principal said indicating I should take the remaining free chair.  A cough behind me startled me for a moment. Coach Carlson followed me into the room, firmly closing the door. He wore his normal coach cloths, white polo shirt and red shorts with tube socks and tennis shoes. His friggin whistle hung around his neck. Did he ever take it off? The man probably wore it to bed and used it any time Mrs. Carlson got out of bounds.
    I sat next to grandfather. The chair felt hard and unforgiving. The room smelt like paper and maybe a faint hint of tobacco, Mr. Turner had been sneaking cigarettes again. He looked at the coach and then at my grandfather. He seemed to be avoiding looking at me.
    “Mr. James, thank you for coming in so quickly,” he said.
    My grandfather, the official ‘Mr. James’, nodded his head. He never did go in for the simple pleasantries of conversation.
    Taking a deep breath Mr. Tuner brought his hands together. Interlocked his